Toronto Raptors' Amir Johnson shoots against the Portland Trail Blazers' Jared Jeffries and Luke Babbitt during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore. / Greg Wahl-Stephens, Associated Press

by Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY Sports

by Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY Sports

If frustration hadn't already set in for the Toronto Raptors by Monday, it surely did after a 92-74 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

The defeat was the Raptors' 11th in their past 12 games. How testy are the Raptors? Enough to get in a tug-of-war with a referee.

Raptors forward Amir Johnson just had to have the ball after Trail Blazers forward J.J. Hickson hit a second-quarter free throw. But David Jones didn't take kindly to having the ball wrestled away from him and gave Johnson the boot.

"He turned his back; I really wanted to know what happened," Johnson said, according to SI.com. "Nothing was said. I lost my cool right there. I never had any problems all the eight years I've been in the league. I never argued with a ref or did anything wrong. From there, I just lost my cool."

The incident would have been sufficiently ridiculous had it ended there. But Johnson then chucked his mouthpiece at Jones as he was being held back by teammate Mickael Pietrus.

A heavy fine and suspension are likely headed Johnson's way. Sacramento Kings guard Aaron Brooks was docked $25,000 for throwing his mouthpiece into the crowd after a November loss to the Utah Jazz. The NBA probably will up its punishment for Johnson directing his frustration at an official.